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Congratulations to the Parks-Law.com Georgia Cyclocross Series p/b Terrapin overall winners for 2017! Many races were very close with only a couple of points separating the top three.

Thank you to our promoters, volunteers, and Board members that make racing possible! They all put in hundreds of hours of work over the summer and fall to pull off GACX! Please say thank you the next time you see one of them.

A survey will be going out via social media in the next couple of weeks. The Board of Directors would like your feedback on this year’s series and any ideas you have for next season. We are always looking for new Board members. There will be a spot on the survey to indicate your interest. We need assistance with all aspects of the series from setting the schedule, race reports, helping with logistics, the website & social media, and more!

We are super, super stoked to be raffling off a set of Boyd Altamont Disc wheels at the series finale this weekend. You can buy tickets on site only, Saturday and Sunday, for $20/5 or $5/1 (cash preferred).

The beautiful Nash Farm in Hampton was this past weekend’s stop of the 2017 Parks-Law.com Georgia Cyclocross Series p/b Terrapin. Cold, almost CX like temperatures finally came along with sustained winds that would play a part in some of the day’s races. With some rain the night before racers were not sure what to expect from the course, but there was hardly a puddle to be seen. The East Point Track Club (EPTC) set up a course with a mix of gravel, lots of grass, and some dirt roads. The downhills were fast, and the uphills were long.

A small but competitive field of seven toed the line for the Elite Women. The smoother course favored series leader Judah Sencenbaugh (SCAD Atlanta) over her mountain biker teammate Mackenzie Myatt (Rescue Project/Stratton Exteriors). With the start whistle, they women were off. With a fast start they were together up the hill and down through the first few turns. The long downhill going to the bottom of the battlefield broke things up a bit. Judah went to the front followed by Molly Russell (LNC Race Team p/b Slim Wonder Wears Socks) and Mackenzie. A mechanical problem forced Mackenzie to DNF a couple of laps into the race. Iris Levin (Bike Law Cycling Club) was behind the leaders in third although Amy Ross (Peachtree Bikes) was chasing hard. Judah held on for the lead with Molly in second and Iris in third.

The CX1/2 Peloton tries to hide from the wind. Photo by Trish Albert

The CX1/2 race looked like a crit at times. Even with a fast start and the climbs in the first few laps, nothing broke up the peloton. The men kept riding at a hard but steady tempo. Forty Five minutes into the race, seven CX1/2 racers were together with a couple rotating pulls on the front. No one wanted to stay out in the wind for too long and burn energy. Finally, Nick Van Winkle got a 30 meter gap on the pack going over the barriers in the last lap. Despite a hard charging peloton, he held on for the win. Andy Scarano (Rescue Project/Stratton Exteriors) took the sprint for second over teammate Artur Sagat. Nick retains the blue Parks-Law.com leaders jersey going into the finale weekend in Athens.

Lock and Dam Park was the host for the Rome round of the Parks-Law.com Georgia Cyclocross Series p/b Terrapin. With no access to the far side of the park—home to the old hills and run ups–, Rome found a hit with the new course! There were turns with mud, turns without mud, straights with some mud, more straights without mud, some rocks, and a sweet downhill to a steep uphill. The hill sent more than a few riders slamming into the ground; others were able to find the line and clear it every lap. Tina Locklear is the winner by getting through the hill 3 ways: tumbling down, running around it on the switchback, and riding.

Racers had to navigate some muddy sections.

The Women’s Elite race saw Judah Sencenbaugh (SCAD Cycling) fly off the front with Molly Russell (LNC Race Team p/b Slim Wonder Wears Socks) and Cambrie Epperson (Sorella Cycling p/b Hincapie Sportswear) in tow. Judah used her old triathlon running skills to put time on Molly and Cambrie in the muddy sections. There were several turns that were faster to run than ride. The podium would be Judah with the win, Molly in second, and Cambrie in third. Sorella Brittany Montgomery and Elizabeth Lee (Team Zoom) were not far behind.

The Nick and Artur show continued in the Men’s CX 1/2 in Rome. They got away early and never left each other’s wheel. Spencer Whittier (Privateer Cyclocross Chattanooga), Andrew Scarano (Rescue Project/Stratton Exteriors), Jon Okenfuss (L5Flyers Cycling Team) chased but could not catch the Dynamic Duo. In an exciting sprint finish, Artur Sagat (Rescue Project/Stratton Exteriors) nipped Nick Van Winkle (Litespeed-BMW) by an inch for the win. A handshake after the race showed what good sportsman and rivals they are! Spencer hung on for third.

Elite Masters 40+ Series Leader Nate Sibly took the win on Sunday at Rome CX.

Atlanta area cyclocross racers enjoy several practice venues to hone their skills. The Ellenwood CX Ranch is one of the most popular. A local racer has created a semi-permanent course on family property. Over the last few years additions have been made to the course, giving it a unique flavor. The course is built on a gentle slope in an old pasture with woods that at the back. Perhaps one of the crowd’s favorite places to watch was on the steep climb in the woods or at the bottom of the descent where many riders were catching air. Be sure to check out some of the video on the Parks-Law.com Georgia Cyclocross Series p/b Terrapin Facebook page. Racers legs burned after going up and down the slope 3 times in succession on the race course. Much of the rest of the course weaved in and out and back on itself with technical turns and barriers breaking up one of the short straights. It made for an exciting sight as spectators tried to figure out which way racers were going. The L5 Flyers and Litespeed-BMW teams put on a really fun race!

Seven Elite women lined up to try to upset Mackenzie Myatt (Rescue Project/Stratton Exteriors) and Judah Sencenbaugh (SCAD Atlanta) and their dominance this year’s racing. Mackenzie went to the front and never looked back. She made easy work of the hill in the woods and the technical turns in the field. Molly Russell (LNC Race Team p/b Slim Wonder Wears Socks) gave chase and came within 30 seconds of first. Judah was third.

In the Elite Men, three riders broke away early. Nick VanWinkle (Litespeed-BMW), Artur Sagat (Rescue Project/Stratton Exteriors), and his teammate Andrew Sarcano put 30 seconds on the field within the first 2 laps. Eventually Nick and Artur dropped Andrew, who would drift back into the chase group. With a couple of short power sections, Artur made his way past Nick, and held on for the win. Cooper Hammarlund (Prima Tappa Cycling p/b Mansfield Oil) rounded out the podium.

Parking Notes For Saturday’s Race: Parking will be 2 rows starting at the road and continuing down the dirt road. Same thing down the lower part of the driveway. 4 rows across the front yard and another row down the upper drive. Overflow will be available next door. Parking areas will be marked. Please do not park outside of the designated areas! Parking is in yellow on the graphic. The course is in red.

Ah, Savannah Superprestige how we love you! You are an iconic stop every year for the Parks-Law.com Georgia Cyclocross Series p/b Terrapin. A night race, no hills, it’s flat, there is a flyover, an onsite bar open on Saturday with $3 beer, and wind. OK, maybe we don’t like the wind. Saturday was an amazing day to have a race that went from the afternoon into the night. Collegiate riders joined the GACX racers with 2 divisions before GACX kicked off. Racers opened up their legs with some night racing. Helmet lights were the norm in the races that started after dark, which made it easy to see where riders were. Sunday was epic! People will be talking about the race weather for years to come! A nice 10-12 mph breeze became 20 mph sustained winds with gusts over 30 after 11:00 am. Volunteers could barely stay ahead of the wind as they feverishly repaired course tape. Later in the afternoon wayward course tape caused several riders to have to run to the finish. Sunday was also the Georgia State Championships! Georgia residents vied for the stars and stripes jersey and USA Cycling medals. It made for exciting racing as there was often a race within a race between GA residents and out of state racers or for more than one jersey within a race!

Michael Montgomery’s bicycle decided to take home a souvenir during the CX3 race. The bicycle received minor injuries but is expected to recover.

Please remember in order to qualify for winning a jersey you must have a current annual competitive USA Cycling license that states that you reside in Georgia. One-day, UCI, collegiate licenses do not count and you must be at least a cat 4 in order to win.

The Parks-Law.com Georgia Cyclocross Series presented by Terrapin makes its annual journey to the low country this weekend. Returning for another year at Oglethorpe Speedway Park, the Savannah Superprestige Cyclocross weekend is going to up the ante, hosting the 2017 Georgia State Championship on Sunday, October 29th.

“We’re excited to welcome the series back to the flyover,” said Savannah Wheelmen race director Justin Bristol. “It’s a real pleasure hosting the race this year, and I can’t wait to give out the stars and bars jerseys on Sunday. We know it’s a long drive for a lot of our racers, so we’re expanding the prize list to include cash payouts for additional categories. Plus, we’ve got some great prizes from local bike shops and restaurants.”

The course promises to be as fast and exciting as always, but with a few new tricks up its sleeve. Of course, the flyover will be back, but what other course features can we expect? Savannah may be flat, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be some drops this year.

Free tent camping is available on site, and RV hookups can be reserved in advance. The OSP concession stand will be open for hungry racers and pit crews, and drinks will be flowing for attendees over 21. Join GACX in Savannah for another weekend of racing October 28-29 at Oglethorpe Speedway Park, 200 Jesup Rd., Pooler, GA 31322.

The Old Grey Barn venue in Rocky Face was back in the Parks-Law.com Georgia Cross Series p/b Terrapin after several years away. Privateer Cyclocross put on a top notch event and blew away most of the racers with a challenging yet fair course. Racers started on the gravel road before turning into the grass. The course went up and down the big hill on the backside several times before coming down and into the flyover. The steep stairs challenged shorter riders, but the ride down the backside was easier than it looked when standing on the top of the flyover. The course then let racers go full gas before going through the race’s namesake, the Old Grey Barn, and over the barriers. HandUp Gloves and Privateer had a great heckle and handup zone around the barn. Beautiful and breezy weather kept things pleasant throughout the day.

Stacy Robinson (L5 Flyers Cycling Team) has dominated the Women’s CX4/5 this year. She took another win at OGB.

The Elite Women’s top podium spot was an open race with series leader Mackenzie Myatt in Montana winning the varsity Collegiate National Championship. Her SCAD teammate Judah Secenbaugh, Molly Russell (LNC Racing Team p/b Slim Wonder Wears Socks) and the Sorella Cycling p/b Hincapie Sportswear duo of Brittany Montgomery and Cambrie Epperson were among the favorites for the win. With the official’s start whistle they were off! The group stayed bunched up as they turned right onto the grass. It was not until the first climb that things started to stretch out. Judah took the early lead with Molly, Brittany, and Cambrie close back. Eventually Molly pulled away from the Sorella racers. She earned a well deserved second place. Brittany and Cambrie would go 3-4 with GACX Series director Elizabeth Lee (Team Zoom) rounding out the podium.

Nine Elite Men toed the line for the start of a competitive race. Elliot Barring took the lead with former Master National Champion Spencer Whittier (Privateer Cyclocross), series leader Nick VanWInkle (Litespeed-BMW), and Wesley Garland (Team Mission Source/NCGA) right behind. Half way into the race Nick dropped back with a mechanical. Having to pit, he lost time. Spencer and Wes took advantage to pull a little closer to Elliot, who was having none of that. He strung his lead out so far by the end that he had time on the final lap to take a beverage handup and an Oreo handup as well as wave to his adoring fans in the heckle zone. Spencer and Wes were all business going into the final lap. They would finish in that order with Nick rebounding to take 4th and Cooper Hammarlund (Primma Tappa Cycling p/b Mansfield Oil) in 5th.

Kenny Oladapo (Bike Law Georgia) bunny hops the first barrier in the Single Speed at Old Grey Barn CX. Then Not a Hop over the second barrier. Kenny’s OK!!!. Kenny got up & finished with a a strong Top 10 placing after hopping the barriers every other lap!